The High Priestess is the holder of secret knowledge and wisdom. She represents the middle pillar on the Tree of Life. In one hand she holds a papyrus roll that contains knowledge that has yet to be revealed. In her other hand she holds an ankh which represents the union of male and female and of heaven and earth. The ankh is the key to the mysteries. The High Priestess rules over the subconscious and she governs insight, instinct and intuition. She contains the insight necessary to find solutions to problems. Her influence may come through dreams, nightmares or the imagination.

Justice is about reaping what one has sown, action and reaction and cause followed by effect. It’s also about the balance of opposites within oneself, of good and evil, of right and wrong, of the conscious and subconscious mind, of the sun and moon, etc. Ma’at represents truth, justice, the balance of nature and cosmic harmony. Ma’at is an integral part in the Weighing of the Heart ceremony in which the heart of the deceased is weighed against Ma’at’s feather of truth. If the scales balance, the deceased’s soul is allowed to begin the journey to eternal life; if the heart is heavy, it is consumed at once and the soul is condemned to the Underworld. Justice represents the conscience that knows the difference between right and wrong and that instinctively wants to do what is right.

Judgement represents a joining of the lower and higher selves where the last remnants of one’s human nature begin to fade away and one’s divine nature is about to be restored. It also suggests both the need to transcend past one’s current situation and the epiphany or spiritual awakening that one has the ability to do so. Judgement shows that one’s actions have consequences. Knowing this, one is prompted to make decisions and changes that are for the better.

The 2 Wands suggests that judgments are made aggressively, without subtlety or tact, with impatience and impulsiveness and with the weight that responsibility brings. As a lesson, the 2W suggests the need to balance one’s enjoyment of the present with one’s worries about the future. As a gift, the 2W represents success, riches and a position of power juxtaposed against responsibility and the problems these things bring. As what blocks one from experiencing the insight of the High Priestess, the 2W suggests that focusing on what one doesn’t have, hasn’t experienced, hasn’t succeeded at, etc. occupies the time and energy one could be using to get to the place they need to be in order to receive the Priestess’ insight and knowledge.

The 2 Cups suggests that judgments are made emotionally or from love. As a lesson, the 2C suggests the need to join with another in partnership, cooperation, harmony, agreement, understanding and/or friendship. As a gift, the 2C represents relationships that go well, people working together towards a common goal, social union and friendship. As what blocks one from experiencing the union represented by the High Priestess, the 2C represents disharmony, misunderstandings, impermanence and sorrow.

The 2 Swords suggests that judgments are made with a mixture of suspicion and hope. As a lesson, the 2S suggests the need for a fresh perspective on a situation. As a gift, the 2S represents the abundance of possibilities that are available to one when one begins anew. As what blocks one from experiencing the insight that the High Priestess possesses to find solutions to problems, the 2S represents the aggression, mistrust and suspicion that hide just beneath the surface of the situation, waiting for any misunderstanding in order to kick start the turmoil again.

The 2 Disks suggests that judgments are made harmoniously, cooperatively or creatively. As an opportunity, the 2D represents change that brings about stability. As what blocks one from experiencing the knowledge possessed by the High Priestess, the 2D highlights that the block is caused by trying to do too many things at the same time so that one’s resources are stretched too thin.

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